Trevor Ellis was found slumped in the passenger seat of a car in Duppas Hill Road in Croydon on August 8 last year

Police want people to see past Trevor Ellis' involvement in the riots to help catch his killer

Duppas Hill Road and Warrington Road

A YEAR after he was shot in the head at the height of last summer’s riots, the murder of Trevor Ellis remains unsolved. As police offer a £20,000 reward in a bid to catch his killer, the detectives leading the investigation told Gareth Davies the father of four was a victim, regardless of his involvement in the looting.TREVOR Ellis' family held a candlelit vigil to mark the anniversary of his murder as, one year on, police continue the hunt for his killer.

The 26-year-old was shot in the head after a high-speed car chase through Croydon, which began over a dispute about stolen loot.

Detectives investigating Trevor's murder fear the perception he was involved in the looting has shaped the media coverage of his death and may have discouraged witnesses from coming forward.

But speaking to the Advertiser, Detective Inspector Jim Redmond said that regardless of what he did that night, the father of four was the victim of a "cold-blooded murder" which the police are "desperate" to solve.

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He added: "This was a young man with four children and a large family, who are devastated by what has happened to him.

"Trevor was a victim. We want to try to bring his family justice and some sort of closure from what they have been through."

Det Insp Redmond has revealed fresh details of the events leading up to the killing.

Trevor, from Brixton Hill, was with Blaze Aitcheson-Daley, 22, and Tyrone Cooper, 26, in a black Ford Fiesta parked in Scarbrook Road on the night of August 8.

Cooper and Aitcheson-Daley had returned to the car with stolen goods burgled from Cash Convertors, a offence for which they were jailed in June. There is no CCTV footage of Trevor entering the store.

"There's a large group of males, mainly black, but at least one white male, around where the car is parked," said Det Insp Redmond.

"The bit that sets it off is that two eastern European males walk by carrying a television which they have obviously stolen.

"They then get attacked by this other group. They are beaten up and the stolen property taken from them.

"While this is happening, someone from the same group has gone to the back of the car Trevor was in and taken a bag from the boot.

"They have then got into two vehicles, a silver Peugeot and a black Astra, and they have driven off, at which point Trevor's mate has decided to go and chase after them to get what he thinks is his property back.

"Trevor just happened to be sitting in the front passenger seat. He didn't want to get involved but one of his mates was upset about what had happened."

The car Trevor was in sped after the other two vehicles and, when the chase reached Duppas Hill Road, the driver pulled in front of the Peugeot.

Det Insp Redmond explained: "Unfortunately, what has happened is the Astra, which is in front of the Peugeot, has stopped and a couple of males got out.

"It becomes clear to the person driving Trevor's car that they are in trouble. He tries to reverse out but he can't."

One of the men pulls out a handgun. He shoots twice, hitting Trevor in the head and in the leg. The gunman then escapes as both the other cars flee the scene.

Moments later, at 9.20pm, a van full of police officers, responding to the disorder, comes across the car and finds Trevor slumped across the front passenger seat.

He was taken to St George's Hospital in Tooting, where he was pronounced dead on August 9.

Police this week offered a £20,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of Trevor's killer.

On Wednesday, exactly a year since Trevor's murder, family and friends lit candles and placed flowers on the junction of Duppas Hill Road and Warrington Road.

Det Insp Redmond added: "Trevor's family have been very supportive of us and the investigation, but they are upset about him being portrayed as a looter. They think that distracts people from coming forward.

"Whatever he may or may not have done, he was shot in the head, a completely disproportionate act by a person who was under no threat from him or his friends. This was not self defence.

"It was a completely cold-blooded act, and what we don't want to be doing is going to another family because these people are involved in another murder further down the line."

He added: "At the moment we are really struggling for people to come forward around where the altercation took place. We have also been unable to trace the two eastern European males.

"We can't offer people anonymity from any offences they have committed, but what we are interested in is witnesses to what happened that night.

"We can protect your identity. The person who committed this crime is a danger to everyone. He must be put before a court."

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Le Pere, leading the investigation, added: "If you are a witness, don't naturally assume that someone else will come forward. Take responsibility and help us catch the person who did this."

The gun used to kill Trevor Ellis has been recovered and is currently being analysed by forensic experts. The self-loading pistol was recovered in June when police searched a house in Croydon, during an operation unconnected to the murder investigation or Operation Withern, the Met’s riot probe. Neil Harger, 32, was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm. He is due to enter a plea at Croydon Crown Court on September 14. Detective Inspector Jim Redmond said: "It’s always good to recover the firearm. "It has been sent to forensics but because it’s only been six weeks we’ve not had any results back."It has been such a long time between the offence and the time of the recovery, so our forensic opportunities have probably been reduced."But we won’t know for sure until we have got the results."Thirteen people have been arrested during the investigation into Mr Ellis’ death, but none has been charged with his murder.The latest arrest was that of 32-year-old man in Croydon on July 13. He has been bailed until October pending further police inquiries.Three men who were arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods have since been released with no further action taken.Police arrested a 26-year-old man in Brighton on August 12 on suspicion of murder. A day later officers arrested a 27-year-old man in Sutton and a 24-year-old man was arrested in Camberwell on suspicion of murder.On August 18, a 41-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder, and on November 25 another 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder, but was released without charge.On March 13 a 21-year-old was arrested in south London on suspicion of murder then, six days later a 24-year-old was also detained.During the investigation a further three men have been arrested in connection with the killing of Mr Ellis.Nine of those arrested – and not released without further action – remain on police bail.Anyone with information relating to any aspect of the incident is asked to call the incident room on 020 8247 4553.Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.